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Car Seats and Seat Belt Safety

Posted on | January 3, 2011 | 31 Comments

Baby in Car SeatEvery year, an estimated 975 kids under 14 years of age are killed as a result of a motor vehicle accident.  Proper use of a child safety seat in young children reduces the chance of a fatal injury by 80 percent.

DID YOU KNOW?

  • In 2005, more than 203,000 children ages 14 and under were injured as occupants in motor vehicle-related crashes. More than 1,400 died and nearly half of those were unrestrained.
  • Seventy-five percent of motor vehicle crashes occur within 25 miles of home. In addition, 60 percent of crashes occur on roads with posted speed limits of 40 mph or less.
  • The back seat is the safest place for children to ride. It is estimated that children ages 12 and under are 36 percent less likely to die in a crash if seated in the rear seat of a passenger vehicle.

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?

  • Make sure that everyone in the vehicle is properly restrained.  Set a good example for your children and buckle up as well.  Statistics show that children are more likely to be properly restrained when the driver is as well.
  • Follow the manufacturer recomendations for your child safety seat.  Return the registration card that came with your seat so that you can be notified of any manufacturer recalls.
  • Use www.recalls.gov to stay informed about any recalls on your seat.
  • Avoid buying used seats from flea markets and garage sales.
  • Infants should ride in rear-facing seats as long as possible.  Check your local laws for child seat usage requirements.

For a demonstration of how to install a car seat, please see the video in our safety videos section here.

Thanks to the National SAFE KIDS website for these statistics. Please visit them for more information.

Additional Resources

Car Seat Recalls
How Seatbelts Work
NHTSA Child Passenger Safety
Car Seat Laws & Regulations

For more safety tips and emergency resources, check out our website at EmergencyContact.net

Category: Safety Tips, Vehicle Safety

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